Slutzky a key in victory

From The Sports Desk

June 29, 2011|By Steve Virgen

Some big names have played at Big Canyon Country Club.

Tiger Woods is an honorary member at the jewel-of-a-club across the street from Fashion Island in Newport Beach. A story has been told many times that Tiger once played a round with Michael Jordan on Big Canyon's golf course.

Well, local golf's biggest names came to Big Canyon Tuesday for the 12th edition of the Jones Cup. The biggest names ended up being Big Canyon's own Robert Pang, Michael Castillo, Mike Carpenter and Gary Singer.

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Olivia Slutzky proved to be the biggest name among the women in the Jones Cup, the golf competition that pits the local country club's two pros, men's champ, women's champ and top male senior.

It was a fun and special day for Slutzky, the Big Canyon women's champion. She already knew it was going to be a fun time. It was the first time she had all three of her children present during a whole round of competition golf.

Her oldest daughter, Kyra, 8, and two sons Tyler, 6 and Geoffrey, 3, were among a supportive gallery for Big Canyon, which captured its seventh Jones Cup in the 12th year of the golf event. When Slutzky made sensational birdie putts on the turn on No. 1 and then another on No. 2, the three kids delivered some of the loudest cheers for their mom. Her husband, Alan, was also there to support her.

"It's been a fun adventure," said Slutzky, 43, who won the Big Canyon women's championship in 2001 and 2002. "To have them out here today was so much fun. After the first seven holes, I saw their faces and it was exciting."

Slutzky was happy to break through this year and onto the Big Canyon team. She said she had been the women's runner-up the past six years. Slutzky has seen success on the golf course. She competed in the U.S. women's mid-am qualifier three times and made the cut once.

Tuesday she was seen helping Big Canyon win by nine strokes against second-place Mesa Verde, ending its bid for three straight Jones Cup titles.

Slutzky became a big name, once again. And, she'll admit she saw a bigger name Tuesday.

Even though she's a Big Canyon member, she's yet to see Tiger on the course. But she saw Ai Miyazato, who was on the driving range and practice green Tuesday. Miyazato is No. 6 on the LPGA money list.

"That's always fun to see her play," said Slutzky, who was just as thrilled to play with her Big Canyon teammates. "I love the camaraderie of the club. I feel like it's a lasting friendship when you play in this with them."